Improvement in electro-harmonic telegraphs



2 Sheets-Sheen1 P- A. GOWER & M. J. MATTHEWS.

Electra-Harmonic Telegraph. No. 202,539; Patented April 16, 1878.

/1 v II I,

I guvm'mrsz NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-Q FREDERIC A GOWER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, AND MASON J. MATTHEWS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ElLECTRO-HARMONIC TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

January To all whom it mziy concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERIO A. GOWER, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, and ll/IASON J. MAT- TIIEWS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have jointly invented certain new and useful improvements in the art of transmitting musical sounds between distant points, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

()ur invention relates to the construction of musical instruments, to be used, in combination with. an electro-galvanic circuit and a telephone receiving instrument, for the purpose of transmitting musical tones or telegraphing messages between points widely distant from each other; and has for its object the transmission of musical sounds between distant points with greater precision and purity of tone than has heretofore been accomplished, whereby a-perfect harmony of tones may be produced at the receiving end of theline, and at the same time said tones are rendered more easily distinguishable one from another, so that messages may be easily read; and it consists, first, in the use, in a musicalinstrument, of one or more duplex vibrators, each composed of a primary me- .tallic tongue or reed, adapted to produce a musical tone when set in motion, and a secondary or supplementary tongue or vibrator, secured to the primary vibrator, and adapted tovibrate with said primary vibrator, and also to have imparted thereto an independent vibration of its own, in combination with one or more adjustable contact-points, each in electric connection with the circuit of wire through which the musical tones are to be transmitted, andso arranged relative to one of said supplementary vibrators that said supplementary vibrator shall not touch it when. in a state of rest, but will be brought into contact with said point at each vibration, and,

one or more keys and suitable mechanical action connected therewith, adapted to set said primary and supplementary vibrators in motion by percussion, plectra, or by the movement eta column of. air.

202,539, dated April 1c, 1878;

] Our invention further consists in the use in combination with a musical instrument provided with metallic reeds or vibratory tongues, and suitable keys and action for imparting motion to said reeds or tongues by percussion, plectra, or by the movement of a column of air, of a series of adjustable contact-points, each electrically connected with the circuit of wire through which the musical tones are'to be transmitted, and so arranged relative to said reeds or vibratory tongues that contact will be made between said reeds or tongues and the points at each vibration of said reeds or tongues, and a series of circuit-closers, each connected with and operated by one of the keys of the instrument in such a manner that the depression of the key which sets the vibrators in motion to produce a musical tone closes the circuit between the vibrator set in motion and the main line of wire, thus permitting the vibrations produced thereby tobe transmitted to the receiving-station in the form of the electric currents, and the releas ing of the key causes the circuit to be broken, and the transmission of the electric current ceases, notwithstanding the vibrations of the after the circuit is broken. a

Our invention further consists in the use, in combination with a musical instrument provided with a series of metallic reeds or vibratory tongues and a piano, organ, or other mechanical action, operated by a series of keys to mechanicallyimpart motion to said reeds or tongues by percussion, plectra, or by the movement of air, of a' series of secondary or supplementary tongues, secured one upon each of the primary reeds or tongues, so as to move therewith, a series of adjustable metal contact points, each adapted to be electrically connected with the main circuit, over which messages are to be transmitted, and so arranged relative to one of said supplementarytongues that contact will be made between said point and supplementary tongue at each vibration of the primary reed or tongue, and a series of circuit-closers, reach connected with and operated by one of the keys of the instrument, and adapted to close the circuit between one reed ortongue may continue for some time ingsecur'ed to its strip of felt b,between which and the strip of I of said contact points and the main line of wire when its key is depressed, and to break it again when the key is released,

Our invention further consists in the use, in combination, of a line of wire, a battery, a transmitting-instrument provided with a series of metallic reeds or tongues, each having secured thereon a secondary or supplementary metallic tongue, a series of keys, a piano, organ, or other mechanical action connected with and adapted to be operated by said keys to impart a vibratory motion to said reeds or tongues, a series of adjustable contact-points, and a series of circuit-closers,each adapted to be operated by one of said keys, and to close or break the circuit between the main line of wire and one of said contact-points, and a telephone receiving-instrument connected to the opposite end of said main line of wire. r

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of our improved instrument, which we term a telephone-harp, adapted to be operated by percussion, and illustrating the method of connecting it electrically with atelephone hearing-instrument at the opposite terminus of the line over which messages are to be sent. Fig. 2 is a similar sec; tion of a wind-instrument having our in1- provements applied thereto,in which a vibratory motion is imparted to the duplex vib'rators by the windinstead of percussion.

A represents aportion of one end of the case of the instrument; and B and B are, respectively, the front and rear portions of the V key-frame, extending from end to end of .the

instrument. I v 7 To the re'ar'portion B of the key-frame is 'secured the fulcrum-rail C, also extending from end to end of the i nstrument, and provided upon its front face with the lip a, havfront and under face the cloth or feltc, resting onthe barBflis inserted the lower fork of the rear end of the key D, in a'well-known' manner.

The .key D is held n-posltion laterally by means of the fulcrum-pin d, inserted in and ,4 projecting upward fromthe bar B, and the guide-pine set in the bar B and projecting upward into'a 'slotin thekey D, also in a wellthe adjustable button q, dapted to rest upon knownmanuer. E is the action-rail, extending from end to end of the instrument, and having secured to its-rear side,-inan inclined position, a series of flanges, F, in the lower forked end of each of which is pivoted a hammer-butt, G; from which projects downward in an inclined positron-the hammer-stem G, to the lower end of which is secured the hammer G. 'lotheupper side of the action-rail E are secured a series of flanges, H, in the'forked 'end of each of which is pivoted a short lever, I-,'pi:ovided at-its rear end with theradjus't-able button, f, to serve as astop to limit themovementof said lever in one direction, andthe spring the tension of which serves to destantially as described in Letters 157,850, granted to MasonJ, Matthews Depress the rear end ofsaid lever, and, as a consequence, raise its front end. To the front end of the lever I is pivoted the jack J, which depends therefrom in a..ver-

tical position, and is provided at its lower end with the shoulder ,h, which is made to engage with the hammer-butt G by the spring 12 when the jack is in its highest position and the hammer-stein Gr rests upon the'rest-rail K.-

- L is a screw-pin set in the under side of the key, directly overthe front end of the lever I, upon which its lower end rests,said pin being the medium through which the downward motion of the key causes a corresponding downward motion of the jack J and an upward motion of the hammer G 7 J M is a sounding-board,extending across the instrument from end to end 5 and N is a metal I rail, placed just in front of, and bearing at two "or more points upon,said sounding-board,and

having formed in its front edge a-longitudinal groove, j, in which are secured, by means of a gib or clamp, 70, and set-screw Z, the steel tongues or vibrators 0, all constructed sub- Patent No.

cember 15, 1874.

A secondary or supplementary tongue or vibrator, m, made very much thinner and more delicate than the tongue 0, is secured upon the upper side of the tongue 0 in a position parallel, or nearly so, thereto, and having the upper side .of its free end faced -with platinum, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. free end of the supplementary vibrator a platinum-pointed set screw,P,setin.the metal holder 1?, secured upon ment.

B is a metallic rod, extending the whole length ofithe interior of the instrument, and having set therein a series of coiled and bent spring-wire circuit-closers, n, projecting therefrom toward the'front of the instrumentiand obliquely downward toward and into close proximity to the upper ends of the wires 0, set in the metal holdcrsP, as shown in Fig. 1.

A threaded pin, is'set in the under side of each key D, and carries-at its lower ,end

bein broken again, as soon as pressure isremoved from-the key, by the tension of the I spring of the coiln, causing the free end of n to move upward with the: key, andthus sep-* arate from the wire 0.

The metallic. rod R is connected by a suit ably-insulated wire, r, to one of the poles of a battery, S,th'e other pole of which is connected by the wire 8 to one of the'poles t of amagnet in an ordinary telephone hearing-instrument,- T,;the opposite poleof said-magnet being Directly above the platinum-faced the wooden rail Q, which extends from end to end of the instru electrically connected to the metallic vibratorholding bar N by means of the wire a. An adjustable cushioned button, 12, is mounted in the flange F, for the purpose of limiting the backward motion of the lower end of the jack J.

In the modification shown in Fig, 2, where our invention is shown as applied to a windinstrument, the key frame B B, fulcrum-rail (1, key D, contact-screw P, holderP, rod R, circuit-closing springs n, and contact wires 0 are all constructed and operate substantially as before described; but the Supplementary vibrator m is secured, in its proper position beneath the contact-screw P, upon the ordinary metallic reed a, secured to the reedframe 1) in the usual manner.

Each of the reed-frames b is fitted into a separate cell, a, above an opening, cl, through the upper board of the wind-chest A, said opening (1 being covered on its under side by a valve, 6, held in position by the spring f, and opened by a downward movement of the push-pin 9, caused bya depression of the key 1), all constructed and operated in a wellknown manner. The push-pins g are each provided with a collar, 9 adapted to engage with and operate the circuit-closer a, sub

stantially the same as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1.

A metal plate or bar, It, extends lengthwise of the instrument under and in contact with the reed-frames b, and is connected by the wire a to the magnet of a telephone hearinginstrument; and the rod B is connected by the wire 1* to a battery, from which another wire leads to'and connects with the magnet of the telephone-instrumentat the opposite terminus of the line, all as heretofore described.

The reed a is made to vibrate by the passage of air through the cell c and passage (Z', caused by the operation of the bellows G in a well-known manner.

WVhen the primary vibrator a or 0 is set in motion, either by the action of wind, by percussion, by wind and percussion combined, or by plectra, the supplemtary and more delicate vibrator m is brought into contact with the point of the screw P at each vibration of the primary vibrator, thus communicating said vibrations to the electric wire, and through it to the diaphragm of the telephone hearinginstrument T at the opposite end of the line,

it being understood that the telephone-harp is located at one end of the line, as at Boston,

and the teleph one-instrument at the other end of the line, as at New York.

The duration of the tone delivered in New York is determined by the length of time which the circuit-closer a is held in contact with the wire 0, notwithstanding the vibrators may continue to move some time after the circuit is broken. This gives asharply-defined ef feet to the note as heard at the point of delivery, and produces a quick response to the touch, which greatly facilitates the rapid transmission ofmessagcs over long lines of wire on land,and is especially adapted to use in connection with ocean cables. 7

To this end we have arranged a musical alphabet, consisting of twenty-six distinctly different musical notes, each representing a different letter of the Roman alphabet, and adapted to be readily distinguished by the car of the operator at the receiving-station.

The battery-power used by us consists of two or more cells Leclanche, and an inductioncoil of proportionate power; but it is obvious that the power or intensity of the battery, or both, may be varied to suit circumstances, or other styles of battery may be used.

The receiving-instrument used by us consists of a permanentmagnet, either single or double-that is, either straight or of horeshoe formwith a coil of insulated wire upon the pole or poles, as the case may be, and a mem brane or diaphragm of thin sheet-iron fastened in front of the pole or poles of the magnet, but not touching the same, it being sub: stantially the instrument known as the Bell telephone, but other forms of the telephone may be used, and an electromagnet may be used instead of the permanent magnet, if desired, without affecting the principles of our invention.

It will be obvious upon careful consideration that the form of action or the construction of that portion of the instrument by means of which motion is imparted to the primary vibrators may be very different from that shown in the drawings--as, for instance, the vibrators may be operated by a variety of percussive actions, by wind applied in a variety of ways, by wind or by plectra,without in any way affecting the principle of the'main features of our invention, as hereinbefore described and set forth.

The contact-screws and the supplementary vibrators are faced with platinum at the points of contact, to prevent the consumption of the metal of the supplementary vibrators; and the molecular changes in the platinum due to the passage and cessation of the current of elec tricity produce an important effect upon the delicacy of the contact, and thus upon the accuracy and purity of the tone.

\Ve have found it possible to adjust the con tact-screw so delicately to one of these supplementary vibrators as to produce a continuous note for two minutes after the large tongue had been struck by the hammer.

fWhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1-. In combination with a musical instrument provided with a series of metallic reeds or tongues, each tuned to a diiferent pitch, a series of keys, and a piano, organ, or other mechanical action, adapted to be operated by said keys, and to mechanically impart a vibratory motion to said reeds or tongues, a seriesof adjustable contact-points, each in elec tric connection with the main circuit of wire,

and percussion combined,

through which the musical tones are to be transmitted, and a series of secondary or sup:

plementary metallic tongues, secured one upon each of said primary reeds or tongue close proximity to one of said adjustable contactpoints, but not touching it until it is thrown in contact therewith by the vibration of -the primary reed or tongue, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with a musical instrument 7 provided with one or more metallic reeds or tongues, one or more keys, and one or more sets of piano, organ, or other mechanical action, adapted to be operated-by said keys, and to impart a vibratory motion to said reeds or ton gues,one or more adjustable contactpoints, so arrangedrelative to said reeds or tongues that contact will be made between one of said points anda reed or tongue at each vibration of said reed or tongue, and one or more, circuit-closers, each connected with and operated by one of the keys of the instrument, and

\ adapted to connect one of said adjustable con-f tact-points electrically with the maincircuit of wire through which the musical tones are to be transmitted, substantially as described.

3. In combination with amusical instrument provided with one or more metallic reeds'or tongues, one or more keys, and one or more.

' setsof piano, organ, or other mechanical action, adapted to be operated by said keys and to impart a vibratory motion to said reeds or tongues, one or more secondary or supplementary metallic .tongues, secured one upon each of said primary reeds or tongues, one or A more adjustable contact-points, so' arranged relative to said supplementary tongues that contact will bemade between one of said points and a supplementary tongue at each vibration of its primary reed or tongue, and one or more circuit-closers, each connected with and operated by one of the keys of the instrument, and

adapted to connect one of said adjustable c011- tact-points electrically with the main circuit 0t wire through which the. musical tones are to be transmitted, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination of a line of wire, a gal-- vanic battery connected therewith, a transmitting-instrument provided with a series of primary metallic reeds or tongues, each having secured thereon a secondary metallic tongue, a series of keys, a piano, organ, or other mechanical action, connected with and operated by said keys and adapted to impart motion to said reeds or tongues, a series of adjustable contact-points, so arranged relative to said supplementary tongues that contact will be made between one of said points and a sup vplementary tongue at each vibration of a pri- 

